Differences in dopamine may determine how hard people work

Washington, DC - Whether someone is a "go-getter" or a "slacker" may depend on individual differences in the brain chemical dopamine, according to new research in the May 2 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The findings suggest that dopamine affects cost-benefit analyses.

The study found that people who chose to put in more effort - even in the face of long odds - showed greater dopamine response in the striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, areas of the brain important in reward and motivation. In contrast, those who were least likely to expend effort showed increased dopamine response in the insula, a brain region involved in perception, social behavior, and self-awareness.

Researchers led by Michael Treadway, a graduate student working with David Zald, PhD, at Vanderbilt University, asked participants to rapidly press a button in order to earn varying amounts of money. Participants got to decide how hard they were willing to work depending on the odds of a payout and the amount of money they could win. Some accepted harder challenges for more money even against long odds, whereas less motivated subjects would forgo an attempt if it cost them too much effort.

In a separate session, the participants underwent a type of brain imaging called positron emission tomography (PET) that measured dopamine system activity in different parts of the brain. The researchers then examined whether there was a relationship between each individual's dopamine responsiveness and their scores on the motivational test described earlier.

Previous rodent research also showed that dopamine activity in motivational centers is important for long-shot decisions. However, in the current study, the researchers were surprised to find that those with increased dopamine activity in the insula were the least likely to expend effort on the task. "These results show for the first time that increased dopamine in the insula is associated with decreased motivation - suggesting that the behavioral effects of dopaminergic drugs may vary depending on where they act in the brain," said lead study author Treadway.

"Previous research has indicated that dopamine influences the motivation to seek out rewards. Now, this elegant new study provides the clearest evidence to date that individual differences in dopamine-related motivation might be a trait," said Marco Leyton, PhD, an expert on dopamine at McGill University, who was not involved in the study. "A striking implication highlighted by the authors is that abnormal dopamine transmission could affect a wide range of decision-making processes and susceptibility to depression."

Dark neural patches Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University's Brain Mechanisms for Behaviour Unit have found a surprise upon mapping the precise connectivity inside a brain structure called the neostriatum.

Rat brains point to lead's role in schizophrenia A study of the brains of rats exposed to lead has uncovered striking similarities with what is known about the brains of human schizophrenia patients, adding compelling evidence that lead is a factor in the onset of schizophrenia.

Did you know that a lot of emotions we experience are influenced by levels of oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine and endorphins? If you could get more of those “happiness hormones,” it certainly would improve your mood and empower your brain, wouldn’t it? Then don’t wait and download this e-book so you can experience more joy in life by:

You can feel good more often by stimulating the brain chemicals that cause happiness. This book shows how. It would be nice if your happy chemicals just flowed all the time, but they were not designed for effortless happiness. Their job is to promote survival, though your brain defines survival in a quirky way. It cares about the survival of your genes, and it wires itself in youth. That’s why we do quirky things to stimulate our happy chemicals, despite our best intentions. You can build new neural pathways to turn on your dopamine, serotonin, endorphin, and oxytocin in new ways. Dopamine is the “I can do it!” feeling. Serotonin is the pleasure of getting respect. Endorphin is a euphoria that masks physical pain. Oxytocin is the security of social trust. These impulses are easy to...

In brain science, there are two phenomena which are becoming increasing common in modern society. Firstly, rates of depression and anxiety disorders are increasing, with as many as one in five people either clinically depressed or anxious at any given time. Secondly, our aging population is revealing a range of cognitive problems associated with aging, including memory loss and other cognitive impairments. Each of these has a common thread - They are underpinned by clear deficits in neurochemical function. You have probably heard that "depression is caused by a serotonin imbalance" (sometimes, but not always, this is the case), however did you also know - - Depression can be caused by low dopamine or noradrenaline (norepinephrine) - Problems with aceylcholine and glutamate can lead...

Based on Stanford University psychologist Kelly McGonigal's wildly popular course "The Science of Willpower," The Willpower Instinct is the first book to explain the new science of self-control and how it can be harnessed to improve our health, happiness, and productivity.

Informed by the latest research and combining cutting-edge insights from psychology, economics, neuroscience, and medicine, The Willpower Instinct explains exactly what willpower is, how it works, and why it matters. For example, readers will learn:Willpower is a mind-body response, not a virtue. It is a biological function that can be improved through mindfulness, exercise, nutrition, and sleep.Willpower is not an unlimited resource. Too much self-control can actually be bad for your health.Temptation and...

The discovery of dopamine in 1957-1958 was one of the seminal events in the development of modern neuroscience, and has been extremely important for the development of modern therapies of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Dopamine has a fundamental role in almost all aspects of behavior: from motor control to mood regulation, cognition and addiction and reward, and dopamine research has been unique within the neurosciences in the way it has bridged basic science and clinical practice. Over the decades research into the role of dopamine in health and disease has been in the forefront of modern neuroscience. The Dopamine Handbook is the first single-volume publication to capture current progress and excitement in this dynamic research field.

"Dopamine for Dinner," is the long-awaited first Malibu Beach Recovery Diet Cookbook, based on our famous low-glycemic diet.
Our clients arrive addicted to alcohol, street drugs and prescription pills, often depressed and anxious. Over the last six years we have seen the positive impact of not allowing them to eat sugar or white carbs, drink coffee or caffeinated drinks while in treatment. The diet, combined with a special nutracutical called SynaptaGenX, and daily practice of Kurma Yoga, helps clients begin to look good and feel good very quickly. They become mentally very clear, and are able to benefit from working with our stellar clinical teams.

"Your low glycemic lunch was out of this world," said Dr. Kenneth Blum PhD. In 1990 Dr. Blum, an eminent scientist and our...

Make your brain function better and become a happier person! Did you know that a lot of emotions we experience are influenced by levels of oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine and endorphins? If you could get more of those “happiness hormones,” it certainly would improve your mood and empower your brain, wouldn’t it? Then don’t wait and download this e-book so you can experience more joy in life by: Creating more happiness hormones Relieving stress Releasing more cuddly feelings Increasing your energy Improving your mood Decreasing your chances of a depression Having more rewarding feelings in what you do Connecting to other people more intimately Keywords: Happiness hormones, happy hormones, relieve stress, relieve stress hormones, reduce stress hormones, increase happy...

Why do we lose weight but then gain it back again? How come skinny people always stay skinny? Dopamine is the drug of choice for the part of our brain that loves rewarding itself. This is a personal story by James D. Layton, the international wellness coach that helps people lose weight and keep it off. A father who piled on the pounds as a stay at home dad.

"Start setting goals. Not goals to “lose weight” but goals to actually be better, be smarter, create something, build something. These forward thinking goals will allow us to achieve our daily dopamine hit in a safe way, and also turn us into more productive people. We can beat our addiction by turning our attention to becoming whole, well human beings. This is why I coach wellness for a living. I lived the...

Where do the roots of addictive behavior lie -- in our genes or in our environment, in our chemistry or in our character? In the Craving Brain, Dr. Ronald Ruden asserts that the roots of addiction most defintetly do not lie in our character. Rather, they lie in a complex chain reaction that originates in an ancient survival mechanism in the brain. When this system is inappropriately activated, it drives the body to crave, sometimes with addictive behavior as the end result. In clear, straightforward language, Dr. Ruden outlines his remarkable successful treatment program which he believes can cure this problem.The Craving Brain offers crucial insights into the world of addiction. This revolutionary book will bring hope to millions of people who suffer from a wide range of addictions,...

Are you interested in improving your daily life through the natural use of your brain chemicals? Then you can't ignore the dopamine effects, for they truly are amazing... that's why we call it the "reward hormone!".

How do your dopamine levels impact your life for the worst or for the best? What happens if you lack dopamine?

Meet your very own dopamine routine

This book will show you how to set up an easy dopamine diet and routine. Learn how dopamine works, what it can do for you, discover the dopamine-rich foods and recipes, and how you can change your life through little daily steps.